INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with Kyle Juszczyk #44 after defeating the Los Angeles Rams 23-20 at SoFi Stadium on November 29, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with Kyle Juszczyk #44 after defeating the Los Angeles Rams 23-20 at SoFi Stadium on November 29, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Kyle Shanahan, on the verge of his 10th season with the 49ers, will first coach a collection of current and former NFL stars in a March 21 flag-football event that’s been moved from Saudi Arabia to Los Angeles.
Tom Brady is not only one of the organizers but he will co-captain a squad with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, while the Denver Broncos’ Sean Payton serves as that Founders FCC team’s coach.
Shanahan’s captains on the Wildcats FCC squad are quarterbacks Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders) and Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals).
Kyle Juszczyk, the 49ers’ fullback since Shanahan’s inaugural season in 2017, is among a pool of players that includes former 49ers teammate and current free agent Deebo Samuel. Those 12-person teams will be drafted March 18, three days before the game at BMO Stadium (Fox Sports, 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. PT).
“I’m fired up to see how these teams stack up, and the fact that we’ll be playing in the same stadium that will host flag football during the Olympics will show the world a preview of what’s to come in 2028,” Brady said in a statement. “But I’m not coming back to the football field to lose. That’s for damn sure.”
Brady, a 48-year-old San Mateo native, retired in 2023 from a 23-year NFL career in which he won a record seven Super Bowl titles and set passing records for yards, completions and touchdowns. He’s since become Fox Sports’ No. 1 game analyst and a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, among other interests.
Also slated to participate are Saquon Barkley, Ashton Jeanty, Alvin Kamara as running backs; Davante Adams, Odell Beckham Jr., Stefon Diggs, Rob Gronkowski, DeAndre Hopkins and DeVonta Smith as receivers; and Myles Garrett, Derwin James Jr., Luke Kuechly, Tyrann Mathieu, Von Miller and Jalen Ramsey as linebackers and defensive backs.
Serving as a third team will be USA Football’s reigning IFAF Flag Football World Champion U.S. Men’s National Team. Celebrities Kevin Hart, Druski and Travis Scott also are part of the inaugural event.
“Having Team USA as the third team in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic elevates the already world-class talent participating in this tournament,” Brady added in his statement.
Shanahan and the 49ers can reconvene April 20 for the start of the offseason program in Santa Clara. The league’s new fiscal year begins Wednesday at 1 p.m., though free agency essentially began with Monday’s opening of the negotiation window and the 49ers’ brokering deals with wide receiver Mike Evans and offensive tackle Vederian Lowe.
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